After all, this family was so outstanding—beautiful bedrooms, and even the pocket money they gave her was the same as Zhao Nanzhuo’s. Zhou Wen even bought her many clothes. Their upbringing made them treat Qianye well, but she hoped their kindness came more from the heart.

She tried to wash the dishes every day and even started making the evening snacks. At first, the adults felt a little awkward, but Qianye was very persistent. She did it every day without fail, and eventually, Zhao Qidong and his wife just let her be.

For her, even if it meant taking on all the household chores, she would gladly do it. She remembered that during every holiday, while all her classmates were resting at home, she would go around to nearby shops or markets to help out and earn some money. This kind of exhaustion was always more lasting and heavier than sitting in a classroom.

Zhao Nanzhuo didn’t have much of a reaction to Qianye suddenly entering his world. She was too quiet, too indifferent, like just another piece of furniture that had been added to the house. He found it hard to imagine how a person could quietly become like this.

Zhao Nanzhuo was in the affiliated middle school of City No. 1 High School, where he had received elite education from a young age. He had successful parents and a successful academic career. It seemed his life was destined to be successful.

In the blink of an eye, the second year of middle school came to an end. As Zhao Nanzhuo wondered how to pass the long summer vacation, Zhou Wen suggested he sign up for a tour group to relax. “Take Qianye with you, but don’t bully her on the road.”

“She’s just a log; what’s the point of bullying a log?” Zhao Nanzhuo said, and left with a dismissive wave.

In fact, he hated how she had no visible expressions of joy or sorrow, like a cold marble statue. He was outstanding academically and had a sunny personality. There were so many people at school who gathered around him, liked him—so why was she always so indifferent?

Zhao Nanzhuo was someone who pursued perfection. It was hot during the summer, and there would be a lot of people. He was too lazy to go too far, so he chose a nearby county town to visit. It wasn’t that he believed that if you wanted to ruin a song, you just set it as a ringtone. But if you wanted to ruin a place you had longed for, you went there during a busy holiday like May 1st or National Day. He really didn’t want the beauty of the place to be ruined by the scorching weather, so he picked an unremarkable seaside county town, planning to stay for just two days.

The night before, he packed his bag. From tissues to flashlights, everything was neatly packed. Qianye just brought a small bag, and she looked surprised at Zhao Nanzhuo’s full, neatly packed travel bag. He had grown up in a well-off family, where the pursuit of quality of life was something she could never match. He felt uneasy under her gaze. “You wouldn’t understand, all of this is necessary,” Zhao Nanzhuo said, trying to act calm, but Qianye seemed to not hear him.

Early the next morning, they arrived at the travel agency to wait for the bus. Once on the bus, Qianye chose a window seat on the right side. Zhao Nanzhuo sat on her left, maintaining some distance.

Qianye didn’t want to talk. Communicating with others made her feel pressured. She remembered when she was very young, her parents always wanted her to be quieter, even quieter, so that she wouldn’t be a burden. They didn’t want her to be like other children, who could easily express themselves at any time.

On Zhao Nanzhuo’s right side was a girl. As soon as she got on the bus, she confidently sat next to him. During the ride, the girl tried to strike up a conversation with Zhao Nanzhuo, looking for common topics, and eventually found out they went to the same school. Zhao Nanzhuo was already popular, and the girl, named Zhou Ran, clearly liked him.

Qianye immediately fell asleep as soon as she got on the bus, occasionally glancing at the scenery outside in a daze.

While Zhao Nanzhuo was talking with Zhou Ran, his eyes couldn’t help but keep glancing toward Qianye. She had already been in his home for over half a year, always appearing indifferent and calm, with meticulous speech and flawless behavior. It was hard for someone as lively as him to imagine what lay behind this teenage girl’s cool, unruffled exterior.

Qianye seemed to have fallen asleep, and Zhao Nanzhuo looked at her openly. She had long, straight black hair, the ends of which were cut perfectly straight. Compared to the popular pear blossom head or chestnut-colored long hair on the streets, her hair had a primitive, tranquil beauty. Qianye’s face wasn’t stunningly beautiful, nor was it unattractive. She had clear, beautiful eyes. Zhao Nanzhuo always felt a subtle connection to her, perhaps because of her cool, aloof aura, or because she spoke so little, so little that it stirred up endless curiosity in a lively teenage boy like him.